30 injured as thousands celebrate Park Geun-hye’s ouster in Seoul

The South Korean Constitutional Court voted unanimously to uphold the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on Friday, ending a monthslong political scandal that took the nation by storm.

Park is the first South Korean President to have been formally impeached.

Meanwhile, speculation has continued that senior presidential secretaries might tender their resignations to Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.

Fears of confrontation are high after the deaths of two Park supporters during clashes on Friday. Former chief judge retired on Jan 31.

Park Young-soo, who led the investigation, said collusive links between large businesses and government, long the subject of scandal in South Korea, were at the heart of the case. In an outdoor concert-like atmosphere, the chief justice was beamed onto giant screens as she read the announcement.

Park had already been impeached by the National Assembly in December on allegations of corruption, including that she shared confidential business documents with a friend, Choi Soon-sil. Only 12 percent said it was not right, with 2 percent declining to reply.

Before becoming president, Park Guen-hye served five terms as a lawmaker. She was forced to leave the presidential office after her father was assassinated in 1979.

The organizers estimated about 650,000 protesters gathered in central Seoul, while protests in other cities drew about 50,000 people.

“I’ve never sought private gains or abused power as president”.

Her removal from office over a corruption scandal has the potential to reshape a country whose politics have always been marred by fraud and ideological bickering.

The National Assembly passed an impeachment bill on December 9 a year ago, leaving South Korea’s Constitutional Court to approve – or disapprove – of Park’s official dismissal.

“Even a few people can make a very big noise in any country”.

Park Geun-hye was the first female president of the nation, and she was the daughter of Cold War military dictator Park Chung-hee. The country’s acting president called for unity and acceptance. South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC) has opened registration of presidential candidates earlier in the day. Those celebrating the ouster, like Jeong Inha, say they are hopeful about the country’s political future.